Meg Lanning retires from international cricket

Meg Lanning has made the shock decision to retire from international cricket effective immediately, aged 31.

Australia's captain had not played for her country since lifting the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February. She missed Australia's tour of the UK due to an undisclosed medical issue and did not play in the recent T20I and ODI series against West Indies despite being fit, having returned to play WNCL cricket for Victoria.

Lanning is as of now captaining the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL and seems set to keep on playing homegrown cricket.

"The choice to move back from worldwide cricket was a troublesome one to make, however I feel this present time is the perfect open door for me," Lanning said. "I've been staggeringly lucky to partake in a 13-year worldwide vocation, however I realize this present time is the perfect open door for me to continue on toward a new thing.

"Group achievement is the reason you play the game, I'm glad for what I have had the option to accomplish and will treasure the minutes imparted to colleagues en route.

"I might want to thank my family, my colleagues, Cricket Victoria, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Relationship for their help to permit me to play the game I love at the most elevated level. I likewise need to say an enormous thank you to every one of the fans who have upheld me all through my global profession."

Lanning has enjoyed a few reprieves from cricket in late seasons for different issues. In 2022, following Australia's Region Games win, she withdrew from nonappearance from the game and functioned as a barista at a neighborhood bistro in Melbourne. She missed Australia's visit in India in December of that prior year returning for the development to the 2023 T20 World Cup.

Lanning made her global presentation as a 18-year-old in 2010 and has played 241 counterparts for Australia including six Tests, 103 ODIs and 132 T20Is. She will go down as quite possibly of the best commander in cricket history having captained Australia to four T20 World Cup titles, an ODI World Cup title and a District Games title. She drove her country in 182 matches across her profession having been given the job as a 21-year-old in 2014.

She turned into the most youthful Australian female to score 100 years, matured 18, when she made 104 not out more than nine.

Of the 11 ladies with in excess of 4000 ODI runs, Lanning has the most elevated normal of 53.51, with India's Mithali Raj the main other player to average north of 50. She likewise had a stunning strike pace of 92.20.

Lanning is the second-most elevated run-scorer in ladies' T20I history behind Bates. She made 3405 runs at 36.61, striking at 116.37, with two centuries.

The main thing missing from her sparkling individual resume was a Test century. She played only six Tests in a 13-year vocation and just made two half-hundreds of years with a most noteworthy score of 93 against Britain in 2022.

Cricket Australia Chief Scratch Hockley honored Lanning after her declaration.

"Perhaps of the best cricketer Australia has delivered, Meg's incomparable accomplishments with the bat have been matched by her rousing administration," Hockley said.

"As quite possibly of the best player on the planet over an extensive stretch of time, Meg has had a limitless effect and driven an age which has changed the game.

"Under Meg's initiative, the Australian ladies' cricket crew has fabricated a tradition of worldwide strength and has been at the front of developing the game and motivating the up and coming age of cricketers from one side of the planet to the other.

"A seven-time World Cup champ and Republic Games gold medallist, Meg resigns from global cricket having accomplished all that there is to accomplish and we say thanks to her for the gigantic commitment she has made.

"We anticipate observing Meg's recognized worldwide vocation at a fitting time."